► Child poverty rates increased from 19 percent to 27 percent in Peoria County between 2006 and 2011. During the same period, the rate rose from 17 percent to 21 percent statewide. The rate rose slightly in Woodford County, from 7 percent to 9 percent, and decreased slightly in Tazewell County, from 15 to 14 percent.

► The number of substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect increased 24 percent in Peoria County and 40 percent in Woodford County between 2006 and 2013, compared to a 13 percent increase statewide. It declined 36 percent in Tazewell County.

► The average rate of reported crimes against children in Peoria County was 483 per 100,000 children, more than twice the statewide rate of 221.2 from 2009 to 2011. The rate was 239.3 in Tazewell County and 13.8 in Woodford County.

PEORIA — The good news is more children in Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties have health insurance.

Otherwise, Illinois Kids Count 2014, the annual county-by-county report on the well-being of Illinois children, digs into the data to show the stark circumstances of many children in the Tri-County Area, particularly in Peoria and Woodford counties.

Childhood poverty, child abuse and neglect, and crimes against children increased significantly in Peoria County, according to the report, which used the most recent statistics available to examine children’s health. Poverty and abuse and neglect cases decreased in Tazewell County from 2006 to 2013. But Woodford County experienced a 40 percent jump in abuse and neglect cases while recording only a slight increase in child poverty rates.

In Peoria County, rates of child crime victims were among the highest reported in Illinois’ 50 largest counties. The number of children in foster care increased 14 percent in all three counties, while the total declined statewide.

“To me, this screams poverty, this screams lack of resources,” said Trish Fox, CEO of Center for Youth and Family Solutions, which hosted the Peoria lap of a series of news conferences throughout the state Thursday organized by Voices for Illinois Children to release results of the annual report.

The death of a Peoria High School senior last February put a face on the statistics. Health, crime and neglect came together when a coroner’s jury ruled Darnell Hunter Jr.’s death was homicide.

An autopsy showed Hunter, 18, died from bronchopneumonia and gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach, with contributing factors of mental developmental delay, major depressive disorder and malnutrition. His father, Darnell Hunter Sr., was arrested and indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter and criminal neglect.

Though Hunter Sr.’s attorney, Hugh Toner, said the circumstances have been misinterpreted, the elder Hunter is scheduled to stand trial later this month.

Shocked by the loss, the younger Hunter’s classmates vowed his life would not be forgotten. They raised money to help pay funeral expenses and to create a memorial in his name.

Without knowing the details of the case, Fox hesitated to make connections between the young man’s death and the data in the Kids Count report.

“Typically, young kids and the kids with developmental delays are the most vulnerable,” she said. “They’re more likely to experience abuse and neglect because they can’t tell anybody.”

Child abuse and neglect usually indicate a combination of other problems in a family, ranging from poverty, unemployment, stress, unaddressed depression, and substance abuse.

Peoria County, in particular, has higher than average rates of all of the risk factors that contribute to abuse and neglect, Fox said, “but not enough of the preventive services.”

Page 2 of 2 - Just as a young man’s death grabbed a community’s attention, the agencies that distribute results of the annual Kids Count report are trying to grab policymakers’ attention.

Though the number of children with health insurance has increased, the report detailed health and health care disparities related to income, race and disabilities.

Gaylord Gieseke, president of Voices for Illinois Children, said stable Medicaid funding and successful implementation of the Affordable Care Act would reduce disparities in access to health care.

“We can foster healthy development of children by supporting families and improving mental health services. We can strengthen communities’ capacities to support healthy development by expanding quality early learning, school health centers and after-school programs.”

Pam Adams can be reached at 686-3245 or padams@pjstar.com. Follow her on Twitter @padamspam.